We offer suggestions for arts lovers to discover (and re-discover) established and emerging artists, musicians and performers in and around Delaware. Although we particularly like to celebrate smaller arts organizations and individuals, we cover nearly anything that strikes us or that we feel you should know about. Periodically, we welcome guest bloggers and artists to join us.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Temperatures are Rising in the University of Delaware's REP's production of "Fever"

The University of Delaware's Resident Ensemble Players (REP)
ends its 2012-13 season with the World Premiere production of Fever, written especially
for the REP by Theresa Rebeck. Ms. Rebeck, one of America's most celebrated
playwrights and authors, is probably best known for creating the NBC drama
Smash.

Fever takes place in a Midwestern bar where the owners,
Laila (Elizabeth Hefflin) and Nick (Stephen Pelinski), are faced with a tough
decision about the bar's future. Business has been steadily declining, but the
bar has been in Laila's family for generations and the actual bar was hand
carved by her great-great-great-grandfather, and she is struggling with the
idea of selling the business.

Like most bars, this establishment has its regulars:

• Margo (Kathleen Pirkl Tague) the business woman who's good
at what she does, but unhappy with

her company's male chauvinistic culture;

• Barry (Steve Tague) the loveable dimwitted man, the type
that's always found sitting at the end of

However, our usual suspects' worlds change suddenly when a
new couple, Irene (Carine Montbertrand) and Ned (Michael Gotch), dine at the
bar one evening and begin arguing over the differing views of men and women,
which then spills over into the regulars' conversation. The argument was pretty
much standard fare: men feeling superior over women; women fighting to be taken
seriously in relationships and the workplace.

The play's not groundbreaking, but it is enjoyable and
humorous. It's like an extended episode of Cheers - a slim plot with a bunch of
people arguing in a bar. The ensemble cast - which also includes Deena Burke as
a broker looking to sell an important piece in the bar - does a fine job
developing their characters. Mr. Tague was a particular stand-out. He perfectly
captured the guy at the bar that everyone loves and who tries to keep the peace, but still manages to put his foot in his
mouth.

The set provides the ninth character in the play. Scenic Designer,
Anne Clark, along with the rest of the set crew designed a gorgeous bar. With
its intricate carvings and beautiful curves, it does look as if it was carved
in the 1800s. There are some FUN additions to the set that I won't give away,
but before you leave the theater make sure you check out the bar's
entrance/exit for a set piece that's not commonly seen in Delaware bars
anymore!

Although the topics of sexism and "men are from Mars,
women are from Venus" are familiar, maybe Ms. Rebek is trying to remind us
that our society is still struggling with these issues and we need to continue
the dialogue for improvement.

Fever at the Thompson Theatre in the Roselle Center for the
Arts closes on May, 4. Visit www.rep.udel.edu or call 302.831.2201 for
additional information and to purchase tickets.

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Delaware Arts Info Contributors

Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, creator & manager. Originally from Pittsburgh and a die-hard Penn Stater, Michelle is the Owner of Arts in Media, a Delaware-based arts promotion firm, which launched this blog in June 2009. She enjoys and tries to support every genre of Arts. In her (rare) spare time, she loves to read, cook and occasionally, paint. She lives in Wilmington with her husband, Scott, puppy Eli and previously, Dewey the Art Dog.